Golf course greens cup chemical protector

ABSTRACT

A golf course greens cup chemical protector can prevent chemical treatments from entering the golf greens cup, preventing staining and corrosion of the cup caused by the chemical treatments that otherwise would get inside the greens cup. When the greens cup chemical protector is placed over the cup prior to application of chemical treatments, the device prevents any spray chemical or granular chemical from entering the golf cup, making the task of cleaning the cup after chemical treatment no longer necessary. The greens cup chemical protector can include a handle for easy removal and placement. A bottom stabilization device can be smaller than the soil area above the cup to prevent the soil area above the cup from being altered or compromised when removing the device. The device can be made of a material resistant to the chemical treatments being applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf course management accessories and, more particularly, to a golf course greens cup chemical protector to prevent chemicals from entering the golf greens cup which can stain and corrode the golf greens cup.

When applying chemical treatments to golf course greens, the applicator has to be careful to not apply the chemical treatments into the golf greens cup, as this can cause stains and corrosion of the cup.

Currently, an applicator has to take care and time to avoid applying chemical treatments to the golf greens cup. Typically, regardless of the care taken, the applicator still has to take the time and effort to clean the cup after treatment.

Conventional round plates may not provide a way to easily deploy and recall them from placement over a golf greens cup. Moreover, conventional round plates may be displaced from their position, allowing chemical treatments to contact the greens cup. Additionally, such displacement from their placement position may damage the soil area above the cup. Finally, conventional round plates that may be disposed over the greens cup may not be chemical resistant, where any chemical treatments may degrade and corrode these conventional plates, requiring replacement over time.

As can be seen, there is a need for a golf greens cup cover that can be easily deployed and recovered, stays in its desired location, and is designed to resist chemical treatments typically applied to golf greens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf course greens cup chemical protector comprises a plate member; a handle disposed on an upper side of the plate member; and a stabilizer extending from an underside of the plate member, wherein the plate member has a diameter to cover a greens cup; and the stabilizer has a diameter smaller than the plate member.

In another aspect of the present invention, a golf course greens cup chemical protector comprises a round plate member; a handle extending from an upper side of the plate member; and a stabilizer extending from an underside of the plate member, the stabilizer having a perimeter disposed concentric with a perimeter of the plate member, wherein the plate member has a diameter to cover a greens cup; the stabilizer has a diameter smaller than the plate member; and at least the plate member and the handle are made from a material resistant to treatment chemicals applied to a golf course turf.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method to prevent treatment chemicals from entering a golf greens cup comprises disposing a golf course greens cup chemical protector over the greens cup, the golf course greens cup chemical protector comprising a plate member having a diameter to cover the greens cup, a handle disposed on an upper side of the plate member, and a stabilizer extending from an underside of the plate member, wherein the stabilizer has a diameter smaller than the plate member; applying the treatment chemicals to golf course turf; and removing the golf course greens cup chemical protector once the treatment chemicals are applied.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a golf greens cup protector installed over a greens cup during application of a chemical treatment, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf greens cup protector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf greens cup protector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf greens cup protector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the golf greens cup protector of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the golf greens cup protector, illustrating a user handling the cup protector for deployment or retrieval.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a golf course greens cup chemical protector that can prevent chemical treatments from entering the golf greens cup, preventing staining and corrosion of the cup caused by the chemical treatments that otherwise would get inside the greens cup. When the greens cup chemical protector is placed over the cup prior to application of chemical treatments, the device prevents any spray chemical or granular chemical from entering the golf cup, making the task of cleaning the cup after chemical treatment no longer necessary. The greens cup chemical protector can include a handle for easy removal and placement. A bottom stabilization device can be smaller than the soil area above the cup to prevent the soil area above the cup from being altered or compromised when removing the device. The device can be made of a material resistant to the chemical treatments being applied.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a golf greens cup chemical protector can include a plate member 10 having a diameter sufficient to provide a cover over a golf greens cup 20. The plate member 10 can prevent chemical treatments 18 from entering the golf greens cup 20, thereby preventing damage or staining thereof.

The golf greens cup chemical protector can include a handle 12 providing a grip extending above the plate member 10 to allow a user 16 to remove and place the plate member 10 as desired. The handle 12 can take various shaped and sized. In some embodiments, as shown in the Figures, the handle can be a loop, disposed in an arc and attached at two points at the ends of the arc to the plate member 10. In other embodiments, the handle 12 may pivot to sit nearly flat against the plate member 10. In still other embodiments, the handle 12 can be an L-shape, a squared shape, or some other shape provided that the user 16 can grip the handle 12 as needed to place or remove the golf greens cup chemical protector.

On an underside of the plate member 10 (that is, opposite the side from which the handle 12 is disposed), a stabilizer 14 can be disposed. The stabilizer 14 can extend downward from the underside of the plate member 10 with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the plate member 10. Typically the perimeter of the stabilizer 14 is disposed concentrically with the perimeter of the plate member 10, as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The stabilizer 14 can provide additional weight to the plate member 10 to help keeping the greens cup chemical protector in place. Because the stabilizer 14 extends downward from the underside of the plate member 10, the stabilizer 14 can also help prevent the greens cup chemical protector from sliding on top of the greens cup 20 and damaging the turf 22 surrounding the greens cup 20.

The golf greens cup chemical protector can be made from various materials, including plastic, metal, composite, or the like. Typically, the golf greens cup chemical protector is made from a material that is resistant to chemicals applied to golf courses, especially those applied to golf course greens.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf course greens cup chemical protector comprising: a plate member; a handle disposed on an upper side of the plate member; and a stabilizer extending from an underside of the plate member, wherein the plate member has a diameter to cover a greens cup; and the stabilizer has a diameter smaller than the plate member.
 2. The golf course greens cup chemical protector of claim 1, wherein the handle extends from the upper side of the plate member.
 3. The golf course greens cup chemical protector of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is has a perimeter that is concentric with a perimeter of the plate member.
 4. The golf course greens cup chemical protector of claim 1, wherein at least the plate member and the handle are made from a material resistant to treatment chemicals applied to a golf course turf.
 5. A golf course greens cup chemical protector comprising: a plate member; a handle extending from an upper side of the plate member; and a stabilizer extending from an underside of the plate member, the stabilizer having a perimeter disposed concentric with a perimeter of the plate member, wherein the plate member has a diameter to cover a greens cup; the stabilizer has a diameter smaller than the plate member; and at least the plate member and the handle are made from a material resistant to treatment chemicals applied to a golf course turf.
 6. A method to prevent treatment chemicals from entering a golf greens cup, comprising: disposing a golf course greens cup chemical protector over the greens cup, the golf course greens cup chemical protector comprising a plate member having a diameter to cover the greens cup, a handle disposed on an upper side of the plate member, and a stabilizer extending from an underside of the plate member, wherein the stabilizer has a diameter smaller than the plate member; applying the treatment chemicals to golf course turf; and removing the golf course greens cup chemical protector once the treatment chemicals are applied.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising placing the stabilizer at least partially inside the golf greens cup.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising placing and removing the golf course greens cup by grasping the handle. 